Disposable syringe



Oct. 6, 1959 H. w. GERARDE DISPOSABLE SYRINGE Filed Aug. 26, 1957INVENTOR. flawciMzz/Aw 65%?05 all v1..-

United States Patent O DISPOSABLE SYRINGE Horace William Gerarde,Westfield, NJ. Application August 26, 1957, Serial No. 680,132

8 Claims. (Cl. 128216) v This invention relates to syringes, and moreparticularly to a disposable plastic plungerless syringe whichaccurately withdraws and collects blood samples for analysis and study.

Syringes presently in use in laboratories, hospitals, clinics anddoctors ofiices for withdrawing and collecting blood samples aregenerally made of glass. Conventional glass syringes are generallyelongated tubes sealed at one end with provision for attaching ahypodermic needle to the other end. A plunger is movable axially in thetube which expels air from the tube on the forward stroke. The blood tobe analyzed is drawn into the tube by placing the hypodermic needle inthe patients arm and withdrawing the plunger to create a vacuum whichdraws the blood into the tube. These glass syringes are generallyindividually calibrated and the blood is carefully drawn up to therequired indicia marking.

After the blood sample has been collected in conventional syringes itmust be transferred to other containers such as test tubes or bottlesfor biochemical analysis, bacteriological and serological study,cross-matching etc. This transfer of the blood sample from the syringeto other containers is time consuming, requires additional clean andoften sterile equipment, and is one of the causes of hemolysis orrupture of the red blood cells, which imparts a pink color to the plasmaor serum. Whenthe red blood cells are ruptured during this transfer itoften interferes with subsequent tests to which the fluid portion of theblood is subjected.

Due to the relatively high initial cost of conventional glass syringesthey must be used over and over again and meticulous care must thereforebe exercised in the cleaning and sterilization of each syringe after ithas once been used. This is particularly true in bacteriological andserological work where glass syringes may become contaminated with bloodfrom individuals with blood-borne diseases, and they are thereforecleaned by successively rinsing them with water, alcohol and ether, andthen finally air dried by sucking air through them.

In view of the foregoing it is the primary object of the presentinvention to provide a plungerless syringe which will permit the rapidwithdrawal of an accurate controlled volume of blood.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a syringe in whichthe blood sample can be centrifuged without transfer to anothercontainer and the supernatant plasma or serum separated from the packedcells.

A further object of this invention is to provide a syringe which is soinexpensive to manufacture that it may be used once and then discarded.

For a better understanding of the present invention as well as furtherobjects and features thereof, reference is made to the followingdetailed description to be read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Figure 1 is a top elevation view of the syringe of the presentinvention, portions of the view benig shown'in cross-section in order toillustrate structural details.

2,907,326 Patented Oct. 6, 1959 ICE- Figure 2 is a front elevation ofthe syringe illustrated in Figure 1. V

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 after the syringe has beenspirally Wound or coiled- Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 afterthe syringe has unwound and been filled with blood, the syringe beingshown in a sealed condition.

A syringe constructed in accordance with the present invention comprisesan elongated tube constituted by a resilient material. The tube issealed at one end and has provision at the other end for the attachmentof a hypodermic needle. A winder is provided for winding or coil ing thetube into a tight spiral and for maintaining the tube in this coiledposition. After the hypodermic needle has been inserted in the patientsvein the tube is permitted to uncoil creating a vacuum which draws theblood into the tube. When the tube has uncoiled the needle is removedand the tube sealed with a cap. The volume of blood collected iscontrolled by varying the length and diameter of the tube. p I

Referring now to the figures,the syringe of the present invention isdenoted by the numeral 10 and consists of an elongated tubular bodysealed at one end 11, such for example as by heat sealing. The materialfrom which the syringe 10 is fabricated may consist of any suitableplastic such for example as polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, etc; Theonly restriction on the material used is that it he non-reactive withthe blood collected in the syringe, and that it be flexible orcompressible so that it can be tightly coiled for a purpose to bepresently described.

The open end 12 of the syringe 10 is externally threaded such as at 13with threads that are complementary to the internal threading on a cap14. The bore within the open end 12 of the syringe 10 is adapted toreceive the hypodermic needle 15 in any conventional manner, such forexample as by internal threading in the bore complementary to externalthreads on the hypodermic needle, or by frictional engagement betweenthe walls of the bore and the outer circumference of the needle. Theonly requirement on the manner of attaching the needle 15 to the syringe10 is that the needle be removable from the syringe and that axialmovement of the needle be prevented in order to'facilitate entry of theneedle 15 into the' patients vein.

The syringe 10 is spirally wound or coiled by means of a winder denotedgenerally by the numeral 16 and consisting of a stem 17 and a head orflanged portion 18. The stem 17 is slotted longitudinally to slip overand engage a portion of the sealed end 11 of the syring 10. When thesyringe 10 is engaged by the Winder 16 in this manner the syringe isspirally Wound or coiled by rotating the winder 16. The head or flangedportion 18 of the winder 16 is externally threaded with threadscomplementary to the internal threads on the cap or knob 14. Thisprovides a convenient method for storing the cap or knob 14 until it isused to seal the syringe 10.

When the syringe 10 has been spirally wound or coiled it is held in thisposition by the retaining loop 19 which is engaged by the pin 20. Theretaining loop is secured to or formed integrally with the surface ofthe syringe l0 and positioned in such a manner that when the syringe hasbeen wound sufficiently to'expel the air from the interior of thesyringe the retaining loop 19 is positioned to be engaged by the pin 20.

The syringe of the present invention may be supplied with a hypodermicneedle 15 attached thereto, or without a needle in the event ultimateusers of the syringe prefer to use their own needles. If the syringe ofthe present invention is provided with a needle 15 attached thereto theneedle 15 should be enclosed by a cover 21 of suitable material in orderto maintain the needle in a sterile condition ready for use upon removalof the cover 21. When the syringe is provided without a needle the openend 12 of the syringe 10 should be enclosed by a cap (not shown) orother means to maintain the interior of the syringe 10 in a sterilecondition.

When it is desired to use the syringe of the present invention thesyringe 10 is spirally wound or coiled by rotating the winder 16 in aclockwise direction. It is to be noted that the retaining loop 19 ispositioned on the surface of the syringe 10 in such a manner that whenthe syringe is in a coiled position the retaining loop is positioned tobe engaged by the pin 20. The winder is rotated in a clockwise directionsince rotation of the winder 16 by means of the cap 14 in acounterclockwise direction would disengage the cap 14 from the winder16. It is to be understood, however, that the cap 14, winder 16,retaining loop 19 and pin may be so positioned in relation to each otheras to permit the syringe 10 to be spirally wound or coiled in either aclockwise or counterclockwise direction.

The purpose of spirally winding or coiling the syringe 10 is to force orexpel the air from the interior of the syringe to be replaced by bloodwhen the syringe unwinds. In order to permit the air to escape duringcoiling of the syringe 10 the cover 15 should first be removed, or if acap has been used to seal the open end 12 of the syringe this should beloosened.

After the syringe has been coiled as illustrated in Figure 3 with theneedle 15 in place, the, needle is inserted into the patients vein in aconventional manner. The retaining loop 19 is then disengaged from thepin 20 and the syringe is permitted to slowly uncoil and expand to itsoriginal shape and length. As the syringe 10 uncoils and expands avacuum is created in the interior of the syringe which draws blood intothe tube. The flow of blood ceases when the syringe has fully expanded.It has been found that the time required for the syringe to fully expandvaries from 20 to 30 seconds to collect 10 ml. of blood. The volume ofblood collected in the syringe 10 can be accurately controlled byvarying the length and diameter of the syringe 10.

When the syringe has fully uncoiled and expanded the hypodermic needle15 is detached and the open end 12 of the syringe 10 is sealed with thecap 14, which is first removed from the winder 16. When the cap 14 issecured to the open end 12 of the syringe, the syringe is sealed at bothends and if ordinary aseptic techniques are used throughout the variousoperations, the blood will be received and retained in a sterilecondition since the inner surface of the cap 14, as well as the otherparts of the syringe assembly that come into contact with the blood aresterile.

After the cap 14 has been secured to the open end 12 of the syringe 10,the winder 16 may be removed from the closed end 11 and the blood samplesubjected to various tests or procedures, depending upon the purpose forwhich the blood was collected. For example, the syringe 10 can becentrifuged in any ordinary clinical centrifuge in order to separate theplasma or serum from the formed elements of the blood. At the completionof the centrifuging operation the supernatant plasma or serum can beseparated from the packed cells by sealing off the portion of thesyringe 10 just above the junction of the fluid and packed cells. Thiscan be accomplished by a pair of pinch or screw clamps (not shown) whichare clamped on the syringe 10 in parallel relationship and effectivelyseparate the syringe into two sealed tubes. The two sealed portions ofthe syringe 10 may be separated by cutting the syringe 10 between theclamps with scissors, scalpel, etc. One of the sealed portions containsthe supernatant fluid phase and the other contains the packed cells, thecontents of both portions being maintained in a sterile condition.

If desired the syringe of the present invention may be provided with ananticoagulant. The syringe may be discarded after use or sterilized withsteam, chemically 4 or electronically, or be made self-sterilizing byincorporating a sterilizing chemical in the plastic material from whichthe syringe is fabricated. In order to identify the blood collected inthe syringe, a tag 22 may be secured to each unit in any conventionalmanner.

What has been described is a syringe assembly which is inexpensive tomanufacture and therefore may be disposed of after a single use, andwhich will permit the rapid withdrawal of an accurate controlled volumeof blood. Throughout the specification it has been stated that thematerial from which the Syringe is fabricated must be flexible andcompressible. In the claims that follow the term resilient denotes amaterial which is capable of being tightly coiled and which will springback to its original shape when allowed to uncoil.

I claim:

1. A syringe assembly comprising an elongated collapsible tube formed ofresilient material, a hypodermic needle detachably coupled to one end ofsaid tube and extending axially therefrom, the other end of said tubebeing sealed, said needle communicating with the interior of said tube,and winder means detachably engaged with the sealed end of said tube forcoiling said tube spirally thereabout to expel air from said tubethrough said needle whereby when said tube is thereafter uncoiled avacuum suction action is provided to draw fluid into said tube throughsaid needle.

2. A syringe assembly comprising an elongated collapsible tube formed ofresilient material, a hypodermic needle detachably coupled to one end ofsaid tube and extending axially therefrom, the other end of said tubebeing sealed, said needle communicating with the interior of said tube,winder means detachably engaged with the sealed end of said tube forcoiling said tube spirally thereabout to expel air from said tubethrough said needle whereby when said tube is thereafter uncoiled avacuum suction action is provided to draw fluid into said tube throughsaid needle, and releasable means for retaining said tube in said coiledposition.

3. A syringe assembly comprising an elongated collapsible tube formed ofresilient material, a hypodermic needle detachably coupled to one end ofsaid tube and extending axially therefrom, the other end of said tubebeing sealed, said needle communicating with the interior of said tube,a winder provided with a slotted stem and detachably engaged with thesealed endof said tube for coiling said tube spirally thereabout toexpel air from said tube through said needle whereby when said tube isthereafter uncoiled a vacuum suction action is provided to draw fluidinto said tube through said needle, and releasable means for retainingsaid tube in said coiled position.

4. A syringe assembly comprising an elongated collapsible tube formed ofresilient material, a hypodermic needle detachably coupled to one end ofsaid tube and extending axially therefrom, the other end of said tubebeing sealed, said needle communicating with the interior of said tube,a winder provided with a slotted stem and detachably engaged with thesealed end of said tube, a knob removably secured to said winder forrotation of said stem, said tube being coiled spirally about said stemupon rotation of said knob to expel air from said tube through saidneedle whereby when said tube is thereafter uncoiled a vacuum suctionaction is provided to draw fluid into said tube through said needle, andreleasable means for retaining said tube in said coiled position.

5. A syringe assembly comprising an elongated collapsible tube formed ofresilient material, a hypodermic needle detachably coupled to one end ofsaid tube and extending axially therefrom, the other end of said tubebeing sealed, said needle communicating with the interior of said tube,winder means detachably engaged with the sealed end of said tube forcoiling said tube spirally thereabout to expel air from said tubethrough said needle whereby when. said tube is thereafter uncoiled avacuum suction action is provided to draw fluid into said tube throughsaid needle, a pin secured to the end of said tube opposite said sealedend and extending therefrom, a loop secured to said tube intermediatesaid ends and engageable with said pin when said tube is coiled toreleasably retain the tube in said coiled position.

6. A syringe assembly comprising an elongated collapsible tube formed ofresilient material, a hypodermic needle detachably coupled to one end ofsaid tube and extending axially therefrom, the other end of said tubebeing sealed, said needle communicating with the interior of said tube,a winder provided with a slotted stem and detachably engaged with thesealed end of said tube for coiling said tube spirally thereabout toexpel air from said tube through said needle whereby when said tube isthereafter uncoiled a vacuum suction action is provided to draw fluidinto said tube through said needle, and a pin secured to the end of saidtube opposite said sealed end and extending therefrom, a loop secured tosaid tube intermediate said ends and engageable with said pin when saidtube is coiled to releasably retain the tube in said coiled position.

7. A syringe assembly comprising an elongated collapsible tube formed ofresilient material, a hypodermic needle detachably coupled to one end ofsaid tube and extending axially therefrom, the other end of said tubebeing sealed, said needle communicating with the interior of said tube,a winder provided with a slotted stem and detachably engaged with thesealed end of said tube, a knob removably secured to said winder forrotation of said stem, said tube being coiled spirally about said stemupon rotation of said knob to expel air from said tube through saidneedle whereby when said tube is thereafter uncoiled a vacuum suctionaction is provided to draw fluid into said tube through said needle, apin secured to the end of said tube opposite said sealed end andextending therefrom, and a loop secured to said tube intermediate saidends and engageable with said pin when said tube is coiled to releasablyretain the tube in said coiled position.

8. A syringe assembly comprising an elongated collapsible tube formed ofresilient material, one end of said tube being sealed, the open end ofsaid tube being externally threaded and having a hypodermic needledetachably coupled thereto and extending axially therefrom, said needlecommunicating with the interior of said tube, a winder provided with aslotted stem and detachably engaged with the sealed end of said tube, acap threadably secured to said winder for rotation of said stem, saidtube being coiled spirally about said stem upon rotation of said cap inone direction to expel air from said tube through said needle wherebywhen said tube is thereafter uncoiled a vacuum suction action isprovided to draw fluid into said tube through said needle, said capbeing removable from said Winder upon rotation in the opposite directionand adapted to be threadably engaged with the threaded portion of saidtube to seal said tube after removal of said needle, a pin secured tothe end of said tube adjacent said threaded portion and extendingtherefrom, and a loop secured to said tube intermediate said ends andengageable with said pin when said tube is coiled to releasably maintainsaid tube in said coiled position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,655,152 Turner Oct. 13, 1953 2,727,516 Lockhart Dec. 20, 1955 FOREIGNPATENTS 383,483 Germany Oct. 30, 1923

